Spring-wheel.



BERNIBR.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 26, 1912.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. BBRNIER.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1912.

1,060,420. 7 Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

ZSHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 wuzmtoz Awms Bernie! Qmi/bweooco COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON.n. c.

ALPHONSE BERNIER, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

Application filed. March 26, 1912. Serial No. 686,250.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALrHoNsn BERNIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-WVheels, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to wheels and more particularly to spring wheelsand the object of the invention is the provision of a simple andefiicient device of this character which will effectually take the placeof the pneumatic tire now in common use.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means which will preventrelative circumferential movement between the outer and inner rims ofthe wheel and at the same time permit their relative movement toward andaway from each other.

A still further object of the invention is the novel arrangement ofsprings and 'means for preventing their circumferential gripping aroundthe wheel.

Further objects of this invention will appear as the following specificdescription is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, whichforms a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation with the dust guard plates removed. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the dust guard platesapplied. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of one of the slotted rodretaining plates and its associated parts. Fig. 4 is a top plan view.Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 6 is a transversesectional view. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 represents a hub of anysuitable type to which is connected the inner ring or felly 2 by meansof the spokes 3 which radiate from the hub. The felly 2 is preferablyconstructed of an annular strip of metal having a laterally extendingannular flange 4 upon one side thereof and a removable flange 5 upon theopposite side. Intermediate the flanges 4 and 5, annular ribs aresecured or formed on the felly, as shown at 6, and operating betweenthese ribs is a similar rib 7 which is carried by the rim 8. This rim isconstructed in a similar manner to the felly, that is, it has anintegral flange 9 lying upon one side and a removable flange 10 upon theother side, which flanges are adapted to hold a tire 11 of any suitableform, preferably having a roughened antislipping tread.

Arranged at intervals around the wheel between the felly and the rim area series of springs 12 which consist of two semi-elliptic portions 13and 14 arranged in opposition to each other with their bowed point-sconnected by means of bolts 15 or in any other suitable manner. The endsof these springs or more correctly speaking, the ends of the inner leafof each spring, is provided with a slight reverse curve, as shown at 16to produce a bearing surface and each semi-elliptic outer leaf portionis provided with apertures upon opposite sides of its connecting pointwith the adjoining semi-elliptic portion so as to permit the passage ofrods 17 and 18, both of which are pivoted at a common point to the underside of the rim, as shown at 19, and have their opposite ends headed toslide in a slotted plate 20. One of the rods or both of them may have aturn buckle 21 arranged intermediate its length so as to adjust thelength of the rods whereby the heads thereof may be always maintained inthe proper end of the slot when the rim is fully extended away from thefelly. The heads sliding in the slots of the plates 20 ermit relativemovement of the rim and the felly toward and away from each other andprevent relative circumferential movement between these parts. Aplurality of pairs of these rods are arranged around the wheels, asshown. 7

The slotted retaining members 20 comprise an attaching plate 22 uponwhich are slidably mounted four blocks 23 arranged in pairs and carriedupon guiding rods 24.

These blocks 23 are apertured to receive the headed ends of the rods 18and are held in position between spiral springs 25 which surround therods between the blocks 23 and retaining plates 26 which are secured tothe plates 20 and also prevent any vertical movement of the blocks 23.

Each elliptical spring has secured around same by the bolt 15 aconnecting device 26' arranged in the center of the spring and havinglateral projections 27 engaged on opposite sides of a clip 28 secured tothe felly 2 so as to prevent circumferential movement of the spring, aswill be readily understood.

In order to prevent dust and dirt from getting into the space betweenthe rim and the felly, suitable dust guards comprising separated fromthe felly, means for pretween the telly and the rim, slotted retainingmembers carried by the folly, springs 1 arranged therein on oppositesides of the slot, rods pivoted to the rim and having Q Venting lateralmovement between the rim and felly said means permitting relatlvevertical movement between the rim and felly, a plurality of doublesemi-elliptical springs connected together and arranged be- 5 inpresence of two witnesses.

lateral heads and intermediate turn buckles, said heads adapted toengage the springs in the retaining members whereby the rim and fellyare resiliently prevented from circumferential movement one upon theother, said rods passing through the outer half of the ellipticalsprings and means for preventing circumferential movement of the saidelliptical springs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature ALPHONSE BERNIER.

Witnesses:

NICHOLAS P. BoULEY, RICHARD LARVIQUE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents? each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. G.

